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SOUTH DAKOTA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION SOUTH DAKOTA B I RD N 0 TE S VOL. 47 DECEMBER 1995 N0.4 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES, the official publication of the South Dakota Ornithologists' Union (organized 1949). is sent to all members whose dues are paid for the current year. Life members $150.00; Family life members (husband and wife) with 1 subscription to Bird Notes $200; sustaining members $15.00, regular members $9.00; family members (husband and wife) with 1 subscription$12.00; juniors (10-16) $4.50; li braries (subscription) $9.00. Single and back copies: Members $2.50, Nonmembers $3.00. All dues payments, change-of-address notices, and orders for back copies should be sent to the Treasurer, Nelda Holden, 1620 Elmwood Drive, Brookings, SD 57006. Manuscripts for publication should be sent to Editor Dan Tallman, NSU Box 740, Aberdeen SD, 57401. VOL. 47 DECEMBER 1995 N0.4 IN THIS ISSUE Ferruginous Hawk by J. David Williams ............................................ Cover PRESIDENT'S PAGE ... ... .............. .... .. ..... ..... .... .. ... .. .... .... ... .. ..... .... .... .83 1994 REPORr OF THE RARE BIRD RECORDS COMMITIEE ... ..... .... .. .....85 GENERAL NOTES - Brambling-A New Species for South Dakota; Prothonotary Warbler in Lincoln County and Comments on Regional Distribution; Sedge Wren Nest in Moody County; Carolina Wrens at Aberdeen; Sabine's Gull in Pennington County.. 89 BOOK REVIEWS...... ..................... ...............................................................93 SEASONAL REPORrS ................................................................ ...............94 SOUTH DAKOTA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION Officers 1995-1996 President David Swanson, USO, Vermillion 57069 Vice President JeffPalmer, 821 NW 5th Street, Madison 57041 Secretary L. M. Baylor, 1941 Red Dale Drive, Rapid City 57702 Treasurer Nelda Holden, 1620 Elmwood Drive, Brookings 57006 Editor Dan Tallman, NSU Box 740, Aberdeen 57401 Librarian Mark Skadsen, 1209 N Harlem Ave, Sioux Falls, 57104 Elected Directors For Term expiring 1996: Dale Droge, Madison; Esther Edie, Brookings; Travis Hills, Crooks; Todd Jensen, Rapid City; J. David Williams, Ipswich. For Term expiring 1997: John Haertel, Brookings; Michael Melius, Her mosa; Ernie Miller, Sturgis; Richard Peterson, Midland; David Swanson, Vermillion. For Term expiring 1998: Gertrice Hinds, Prairie City; Jeffrey Palmer, Madison; Mark Skadsen, Sioux Falls; Dan Tallman, Aberdeen; Duane Weber, Custer. Past President Directors Jocelyn L. Baker, L. M. Baylor, Gilbert Blankespoor, Robert Buckman, Ken Graupmann, Cecil Haight, Byron Harrell, Bruce Harris, Nelda Holden, Rex Riis, Dennis Skadsen, N. R. Whitney, Jr. Associate Editor: Arlen Hanson SOUTH DAKITTA BIRD NOTES 47(4): 82 DECEMBER1995 PRESIDENT'S PAGE I Let me begin my inaugural President's Page by thanking the SDOU membership for giving me this opportunity to serve as presi dent. In beginning my term, I would like to review some of the SDOU's recent accomplishments and to share some of my ideas and goals that we might pursue. To start with, let's review the SDOU's mission: "to encourage the study of birds in South Dakota and to promote the study of ornithology by more closely uniting the stu dents of the branch of natural sci ence" (Baylor. 1990, SDBN 42: 81). We have recently published a new edition of The Birds of South Dakota (1991) and The South Dakota Breeding Bird Atlas (1995). These excellent publica tions review the status and distri bution of birds in the state. We have also supported graduate students studying ornithology in South Dakota through the Husmann and Hinds memorial Scholarships. We were privileged to have two former Husmann Scholarship winners pre sent excellent papers on their research at the recent fall meeting in Madison. Our publications and scholarships have done much toward meeting the "encouraging the study of birds in South Dakota" component of our mission statement. However, much remains to be learned about South Dakota birds. One way that the SDOU can foster additional ornithological research is to es tablish a small grants program. I envision such a program as being open to anyone (professional or nonprofessional) interested in conducting or nithological research in South Dakota. We could fund projects such as ecological. natural history, or conservation research, starting or contin uing MAPS stations, or a variety of other projects. I think that we could realistically allocate $1000-$1500 per year to such a program. This amount could fund several small ($200-$300) grants that could greatly assist in stimulating research projects. Starting such a program would require a committee (composed of SDOU members) to review research proposals. Supporting such a program over the long-term might require a dues increase of $2-$3 per year, but I think that this would be a worth while investment in South Dakota ornithology. The other component of the mission statement is to "promote the study of ornithology by more closely uniting the students of the branch SOllrH DAKOTA BIRD N01ES 47(4): 83 DECEMBER 1995 of natural sciences." I believe that there are several ways that we can help accomplish this goal. One is to initiate a statewide rare bird alert hot line. We are currently, according to the American Birding Association, one of four states without a rare bird hotline (the others are Hawaii, Mississippi, and North Dakota). As secretary of the SDOU Rare Bird Records Committee, I have received several reports from out-of-state birders that have birded in South Dakota. Several of these have men tioned a desire to contact a rare bird hotline before their visit, and sur prise that there was none available. Thus, I think a rare bird alert hot line is a great way to advertise birding in South Dakota. and will be bene ficial to traveling birders, as well as to SDOU members who want to im prove their state lists. The initial investment in getting a hotline started ts small ($100 or so), so SDOU could easily afford this, but we do need a volunteer who could handle the reports. Other states usually update the rare bird alert message weekly. Another way that we can unite students of ornithology is to bring in nationally recognized outside speakers for our spring and fall banquets. and possibly for other SDOU-sponsored meetings throughout the year. If we advertise to the general public that nationally recognized speakers will be addressing our banquets, this could increase attendance at our meetings, and increase public awareness of our organization. In addi tion, nationally recognized speakers will broaden our thinking about ornithology and increase our awareness of current issues in ornithology. It is certainly important for us to keep abreast of ornithological trends within South Dakota. but these are often greatly impacted by activities or conditions on a broader geographic scale. Thus, we need to be cog nizant of the "big picture" to properly interpret what is happening in South Dakota. Finally, we can unite students of ornithology in South Dakota by holding some informal "SDOU weekends" where we will visit vafious ar eas of the state for weekend-long field trips. Jeff Palmer tells me that such a program has been very well-received and well-attended in Minnesota. I envision such weekends as taking place on a quarterly or bimonthly schedule until we see what kind of response they generate, and then we can modify the schedule accordingly. This would be a great way to get to know other SDOU members. and to experience the "infinite variety" that South Dakota offers. These are a few of my thoughts about projects that the SDOU can un dertake to continue to address our mission. If any of you has other ideas. or would like to let me know your thoughts about some of the ideas that I have proposed, give me a call, drop me a letter, or (for you computer junkies) send me an e-mail ([email protected]). Your ideas and efforts make the SDOU a vigorous and effective organization! David Swanson, SDSU, Vermillion SD 57069 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES 47(4): 84 DECEMBER 1995 I 1994 REPORT OF THE RARE BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE David L. Swanson Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion 57069. The SDOU Rare Bird Records Committee (RBRC) met on 22 May 1994 at Pierre and on 9 October 1994 at Enemy Swim Lake. The members of the committee are Nathaniel Whitney, Jr. (acting chair), David Swanson (secretary), Paul Springer, Bruce Harris, and Jeffrey Palmer. All mem bers either attended each meeting or voted in absentia. The purpose and voting procedure of the committee are outlined by Springer (1988. SDBN 40:67-70). Observers of rare or unusual birds in South Dakota are encouraged to report their observations to any of the following: the secretary of the RBRC (David Swanson of Vermillion. SD) or other Records Committee members, compiler of the quarterly Seasonal Reports in South Dakota Bird Notes (Jeffrey Palmer of Madison, SD). or the editor of Bird Notes (Dan Tallman of Aberdeen. SD). A Rare Bird Observation Fonn is available for this purpose from any of the people to whom these reports should be sent. Reports should be as de tailedas possible and should describe the entire bird, as well asvocaliza tions orbehaviors exhibited by the bird at the time of observation.Notes on the observation for rare bird reports should be prepared during the observation or as soon afterward as possible, preferably before consult ing a field guide. Complete descriptions are necessary to provide the committee with the greatest amount of information on whichto judge their acceptance or rejection. A summary of the type of information de sired by the RBRC in a rare bird report can be found in Swanson ( 1994. SDBN 46:64-71). A listing of those species for which rare bird reports are requested is given on the latest version of the checklist of South Dakota birds (available from Dan Tallman or David Swanson). Species for which de scriptions are no longer required include: Clark's Grebe, Whooping Crane, Red-naped Sapsucker, Alder Flycatcher, Carolina Wren, Blue gray Gnatcatcher, Varied Thrush, Philadelphia Vireo, Le Conte's Sparrow, and Sharp-tailed Sparrow.